Shamisen's are really cool to play, actually went for a lesson in Japan - but was told they were for women only, odd the clip then. Maybe they're just not for Gaijin. I bought a koto - they rock because you get a brilliant SLIDE sound with only bends, I was rockin' cooder on a very non-western instrument. Had to sell it before leaving because they're huge, about 6ft, and would have cost too much to ship for my budget back then.
